February 22, 2021, Issue 744
New Faces: Give ’Em A Hand
No longer an introduction to Country radio, but an acknowledgement of both past achievement and future potential, the evolution of the annual New Faces of Country Music continued as the show, and the seminar it concludes, went virtual this year. 19th & Grand’s Tenille Arts, Mercury’s Travis Denning, Big Loud’s Hardy, Warner/WMN’s Ashley McBryde and Records/Arista’s Matt Tenille Arts Stell changed out of their sweatpants, reintroduced themselves to band members and figured out what to do with their hands … well, everyone except Hardy and Denning on the latter. Hardy kicked off his four-song set with “Boots” after sharing his favorite CRS memory – a night he was “convinced” he was roofied. Good times. (Read more of the New Faces favorite memories in the CRS print issue here.) Next was his first No. 1 as an artist, “One Beer,” followed by “Give Heaven Some Hell.” “No matter what happens with this song, the only wish I have is whoever you are, I hope this song plays a part in you getting over someone you love that you lost.” He closed with “Unapologetically Country As Hell,” middle fingers Hardy in the air. “If you want my advice, anyone out there lucky enough to be alone in Matt’s truck at the end of the great night, don’t let him go. He will not be on the market for long.” The first of two videos showed Stell getting an assist from radio on a bad date, while the second featured his teary mother, Dr. Lisa Todd, reading a letter he sent her at Christmas. She added, “It never stops being thrilling to hear him on the radio. (continued on page 12)
Most People Are Good: Capitol’s Luke Bryan is named the CRB 2021 Artist Humanitarian Award recipient during his CRS Artist Interview. Pictured (l-r) are CRB/CRS’ RJ Curtis, the label’s Royce Risser, Bryan, CRB/CRS’ Kurt Johnson and the label’s Mike Dungan.
CRS: Crisis Management
KUZZ/Bakersfield PD and CRS Agenda Committee Chair Brent Michaels led the “When Sh*t Hits The Fan” panel with WYCT/Pensacola’s Kevin King, Triple 8’s George Couri, Essential Broadcast Media’s Ebie McFarland and Steadfast owner/artist manager Nick Hartley agreeing that managing
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